Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers with a population of approximately 31 million (BBC, 2016). The economic stability and general well-being of the citizens have been a result of the sustainable development goals that the country has embraced such as reduction of poverty levels, proving essential services to all citizens such as medical services, good sanitation, infrastructure development and ultimately ensuring peace within its borders. The human development Index of Nepal is at 145, therefore, showing considerable efforts towards ensuring all citizens have a considerably comfortable lifestyle (UNDP, 2015).
75.1%
42.8%
QUALITY EDUCATION
A large percentage of the world’s population is privileged to have access to good quality education. However, the larger part of the world still wallows in poverty and this prevents the citizens from attaining quality education services. For any economy to sufficiently develop and sustain its citizens’ needs and wants, the young generation has to have adequate access to education and other training facilities (Landon, 2006). This includes training in craft skills and other trades that will eventually be beneficial in the long run to the country (National Academies Press, 2014). Quality education is characterized by a considerable change in people’s lifestyle change to the better and also improvement in the way citizens carry out their activities. For instance, in Nepal, the male literacy rate is at 75.1 % in comparison to that of women that is at a low of 42.8%. This portrays a disparity between the levels of education of women and men in the country. As a result, both genders live different lifestyles since the more educated citizens have access to better jobs and hence better lifestyles.
HEALTH AND GENERAL WELLBEING
This generally involves improvement of health services to ensure a reduction in child mortality rates and advanced maternal health and fighting some of the world epidemics and managing diseases such as HIV/AIDS. This will eventually result to a healthy community that contributes positively to the national growth. Surveys carried out show that approximately 6 million children still die from diseases such as tuberculosis, which can be efficiently managed if the right medical facilities are provided. Likewise, hundreds of expectant women die during childbirth all over the world, while this can be easily rectified by providing professionals in the medical facilities that they visit. The HIV/AIDS epidemic can also be easily managed and controlled through education and provision of the necessary medicines to those affected. In Nepal, the life expectancy is at approximately 68.41 years (BBC, 2016). This can be considered to be at a high in consideration with those of other countries around the world.
68 years
INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE
One of the sustainable development goals is the provision of infrastructure to support the economic activities taking place in the countries and foster economic growth. Good infrastructure is characterized by advancement in the transport sector and this provides faster and easier access to products and crucial services such as medical services to citizens. It is of essence that any government that wishes to succeed in its economic activities supports the industry sector through supporting small businesses (Landon, 2006). This can be through offering them grants and loans to improve their capital base. The government can also reduce requirements that small businesses must meet in order to operate. Nepal has several small businesses, which have resulted in improved economic conditions of the country and the overall wellbeing of the residents who derive a living from these businesses. Innovation and creativity are of the essence in any economy that desires to sustain its development (National Academies Press, 2014). For instance, embracing technological advancement assists in finding solutions to some of the common economic and environmental challenges that countries face. For instance, through technology, citizens can have access to sustainable energy. Nepal has embraced development in technology through scientific research into better methods of operating businesses. Through innovation, solutions are easily found to most of the persistent problems that countries encounter.
PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
One of the sustainable goals is establishing peace in the countries and justice, especially in the legal systems. It follows that a country is only as successful as the degree to which it enjoys peace and political stability. A close study of countries in the world that are plagued with political instability shows that they have a struggling economy as investors shy away due to the risks involved (National Academies Press, 2014). Peace and stability are characteristics of a developed nation. Countries that enjoy political stability are those which address issues concerning security and peace in all of the regions as opposed to having some regions being affected by violence and conflicts.
In November 2006, Nepal sufficiently protected its citizens by signing a peace treaty with the Communist Party of Nepal.
The Prime Minister (left) and Guerilla leader sign a peace deal in 2006.
Apart from this, the establishment of a new constitution outlining the equality of all Nepalese people and offering them all equal opportunities greatly assisted the nation in establishing peaceful coexistence of all in all the regions (Khalid, 2016). It also brought to an end war and conflict, therefore, promoting investment within the country’s borders. This has resulted in the economic prosperity that Nepal enjoys now.
Nepal’s new constitution
References
BBC. (2016, February 24). Nepal Country Profile. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12511455
Khalid, S. (2016, February 21). Prachanda: Nepal's era of change after 'People's War'. Aljazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/prachanda-nepal-era-change-people-war-160221100430907.html
Lanson, M. (2006). Environment, Health and Sustainable Development. Berkshire, England: Open University Press.
National Academies Press. (2014). Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice. Washington, D.C.: The National Academic Press. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK200888/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK200888.pdf
UNDP. (2015). About Nepal. Retrieved from http://www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/countryinfo/#Introduction
